Automatic railway-alarm.



N. LANG.

AUTOMATIC RAILWAY ALARM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.21, 1908.

Patented N0v.24,19o8.

1m: :wams versus co., wAsmmzmN, n. c.

NIELS LANG, OF VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBlA, CANA DA.

AUTOMATIC RAILWAY-ALARM.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

Application filed April 21, 1908. Serial No. 428,381.

fo all whom it may conce/rn:

Be it known that I, Ninns LANG, citizen of the Dominion oit' Canada, residing at Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, Canada, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Railway-Alarms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an electric block signaling system for use on railways to intimate to the driver of a train the presence of other engines of trains on the same section of the line. This intimation is designed to be automatically operative by the entry of an engine onto the section under such protection and is imparted to the driver audibly by the ringing of an alarm bell and visually by a recording voltmeter on the foot plate of the engine. The application of the system may be further extended to protect a train standing on a side track or loop and also to guard against trains meeting on a level crossing.

The system requires the division of the line into a series of sections of a length dependent on the amount of traffic. Each section so divided is provided with a battery of determined strength in a. circuit formed by one of the lines of the track and a line wire extending the length of the section, which circuit is closed by the passage of an engine equipped with corresponding apparatus over contact plates arranged at intervals: so that the strength of the battery current of the section is registered on a voltmeter on the engine, each registration being accompanied by the ringing of an alarm bell to draw attention to it.

The section battery is sub-divided, so that the passage of the first engine onto a protected section of the track will connect one section of the battery in the circuit, while the entry of further engines will successively add other sections of the battery series. By this means the strength of the current in the circuit of each section, as shown on his Voltmeter, will be an indication to each driver on the track section whether an engine or train precedes or follows him.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, reference being made to the drawings by which it is accompanied, in which:

Figure l represents diagrammatically a sec tion of railway track protected by this system with the apparatus of the track section battery box, and that on the locomotive engine, Fig. 2, a similar view showing the supplementary apparatus protecting a loop or side track, and Fig. 3, that protecting a level crossing.

VIn. these drawings 2 represents a section of single line railway track, 3 a loop thereon and t a track crossing. The section battery box is represented by 5 and the engine by (5. In the section box 5 is placed a battery l0 having extra groups of cells, ll, l2 or more arranged in series with it. One end of the battery l is connected at 'i3 to one of the rails ot the track 2 and the other end oi l0, and of each successive group il and l2 is separately connected to the line wire 14 through a mechanism to be described, which line wire is connected at intervals to contact plates l situated at delinite distances from the rails, so as to engage a corresponding contact 16 on the engine G.

On the engine (3 between the contact plate 16 and the wheels by which contact is made with the track rail to which one end of the battery l0 is connected, is a circuit 1S in which is a voltmeter 1T which will indicate and register the strength of the battery l0 or its series additions when the engine closes the track circuit by contact oil lt with l5.

In the battery box 5 is mounted a rotatable wheel Q0 having teeth or projections from its rim and on this wheel is a series of contact plates 2l, Q2, each of which is separately connected to the terminals oi the batteries l0, ll, and l2 which are intended, when the wheel 20 is tractionally rotated, to contact successively with a bar connected to the line circuit lll. The wheel 20 is rotated by means of a prolongation QG from the pivotally or flexibly mounted armature of an electro-magnet Q7 the coil of which is in a circuit one terminal of which is connected to one oi the rails oit the Ytrack 2 and the other to a contact plate Q9 in a definite position in relation to the rail to engage a contact on the locomotive t3.

Between the engine contact 30 and the wheels. is a circuit 3l haring in it a battery 32, so that when the engine engages the contact 2S) the strength ot' the battery 32 passes round the circuit 2S and sensitizes the electro-magnet 2T and in drawing up its armature the extension QG oit' it rotates the wheel 2O through the space of one tooth against the resistance ot a light spring and brings 011e of the wheel contacts Qi, 22, or Q3, into electrical contact with the bar Q5, so that the current 'troni the battery l0 or its series additions may pass into the section line circuit l magnet t() is held out ot' contact with the 1a and will be registered on the engine voltmeter 1T when the contact 16 ot' the engine engages 15 of the track, Thus when an engine approaches the protected section, the circuit 2S is first closed and by the engage ment ot the contact 3() ot the engine with contact 29 ot the track the current from the engine battery 32 will seusitize the electromagnet 2T and cause the wheel 2O to rotate to bring its contact 21 into engagement with the bar 25 when the current from the first section 10 ot the line battery will pass into the circuit 111 and its strength will be registered on the engine voltmeter 1T. 1n the voltmeter circuit 1S on the engine, is an electro-magnet 19 which is sensitized when a current passes through the voltmeter circuit and closes a bell circuit having a battery 36 and bell 3T, so that an alarm bell will be rung coincident with the registration of a current on the voltmeter and this registration and alarm will occur as the engine passes the several contacts 15 throughout the track section. 1t a second engine enters on the track it will similarly engage first the contact 29, by which the strength of its battery 32 will rotate the wheel 2O through the space ot another tooth and will bring the next contact 22 ot the wheel to connect the added section 11 with 10 of the battery into the section line circuit 1st and this increased current over what is known to be the initial battery strength will be indicated on the operating engine voltmeter and will intimate to the driver that an engine precedes him on the section, while the first engine will also receive an alarm and register the increased current when it passes the next contact 15 and will convey to the driver ot the first engine an intimation that a second engine follows him, and so on, as other engines enter the section. 1t' an engine approaches from the opposite direction as soon as it engages a contact 15 its driver will be acquainted by its voltmeter whether the section is clear or whether it occupied by one, two, or more engines or trains.

It now becomes necessary to explain how, when a train passes off the section, the battery strength is cut down to correspond, so that the voltmeter of each engine on that section may indicate what trains occupy the section. Connected wit-h the track line circuit 14 toward the end ot the section is a contact 39 situated in a position to be engaged by the contact 30 of the engine. Situated within the battery box in the connection between the contact bar 25 and the line wire 14 is an electro-magnet 40, the armature @t1 of which is connected with a pivotally mounted escapement which engages the teeth ot the wheel 2O and will release it backward, tooth by tooth, each oscillation of the escapement. The armature ot the electropole of its magnet by a spring 42 strong enough to resist the attraction of the magnet when the current from the batteries 10, 11 and 12 is in the circuit 1st, but which will be overcome when the strength of the battery 32 is thrown into the circuit. The strength of the engine battery 32 is added to the circuit ot' the line wire lt by engagement ot' the engine contact 3() with the Contact 39 toward the end ot the track section. Thus when an engine reaches the end of a section and passes over the contact 39, the strength of the engine battery 32 being added to that in the line wire la the electro-magnet Lt0 is sensitized over the restraining pull of the spring 42, so that its armature 41 is drawn down and, by means of the escapement attached, the wheel 20 is released and will return through the space ot one tooth, The last added section of the battery 10, 11, or 12 is thus thrown out of the line wire circuit 1st when an engine passes ott the section and the reduced strength of the current in the circuit is indicated on the voltmeter ot each engine on the section, when it next passes over one of the contacts 15.

In the protection of a side track or loop 3 a battery 50 is provided adjacent to the loop, one end of which battery is connected at 51 to one ot the rails ot the track 2, and the other to a circuit 52 connected to contacts 53 which are thrown out a sufficient protecting distance from each end oit the loop and are placed to engage the Contact 16 of the engine 6. In the circuit are switch contacts which are opened or closed by the movement of the lever 55 which operates at each end the switch to the loop. The switch contacts 54 are designed to be closed by either switch lever when the switches stand open tor the loop, so that the strength of the battery 50 can only tlow in the circuit 52, when one or the other ot the switches stand open to turn a train into the loop. Thus when an engine approaches the loop and the switch at the end ot approach stands to pass the train onto the loop as soon as it engages the Contact the current ot the battery 50 will be indicated 'on the voltmeter 17 and an alarm will be sounded; while it the switch stands to pass the train along the main track 2, the battery circuit will be open as drawn in Fig. 2, and no current from the battery 50 can pass to the engine and the driver knows that he is sate to proceed.

For the protection of a level crossing 4t a supplementary battery 60 is furnished ad jacent to the crossing, one pole of which battery is connected at 61 to the rails of the tracks 2 and 4t and the other, through a contact mechanism to be described, to a circuit wire 62 havin-g contact plates 63 to engage the voltmeter contact 16 of the engine 6..

These contact platesl (33 are carried out in each direction from the crossing of the track i a suthcient distance to enable a driver to stop before reaching the crossing it it is already occupied by a passing train. The connection G2 from the battery 60 to the contact plate 623 passes through the armature til ot' an electro-magnet 55, which armature when connected to a pivotally mounted latch bar (5G includes the battery 60 in the contact plate circuit GQ. In the circuit (SQ is the coil of an electro-magnet GT which, when a current et the required strength passes through it, will act to lift the latch bar GG which forms its armature, but this will not occur until the strength of the battery GO is supplemented by that ot the engine battery 32 in a manner to be described later. One end of the coil of the electro-magnet is connected by a wire GS to a contact plate (59 and the other end at Tt) to one of the track rails Q. Se that when an engine approaching a crossing engages the contact plate 69, the current from the engine battery 32 will sensitize the electro-magnet G5 and its arma ture (SJC will be drawn up and latched to 6G thus throwing the battery GO into the circuit (i2 with which the contacts (33 are connected. lnder this condition if any other engine approaches the crossing, as soon as its contact 1.(3 engages one of the contact plates 63 the strength o'tl the battery 60 will be indicated on its voltmeter and will give an intimation to the driver that an engine or train occupying the crossing. 1When the engine having passed the crossing is leaving its safe limits, its contact 30 engages a contact 7l which .is connected to the battery circuit G2 and the strength of the engine battery 32 will be added to that of 60 already in the circuit'. rlhis increased current passing through the coil of the electro-magnet 67 will litt the latch bar GG and release thc armature (iii, thus opening the battery circuit and leaving it in Vits normal condition.

(bviousl'y a contact plate 69 will be placed on each line ot approach to a crossing and connected in the circuit (3S. 'Ihese contacts and connections have been omitted from VFig. B to avoid complication of the diagram.

Ila ving now particularly described my invention and the manner of its operation, I hereby declare that what I claim as new and desire to bc protected in by Letters Patent, is:

l. In an automatic railway alarm system, an electric circuit extending the length of the section ot' track to be protected which circuit .is designed to be closed by the entrance onto it ot' an engine suitably equipped. lneans by which the entrance o" an engine onto the section will automatically direct an electric current into the section circuit and means by which the entrance oit other engines onto the section will successively increase the strength o't' such current, means tor successively reducing by the last added increment the strength oi' the current in the section circuit tor each engine which leaves the section end, means on the engine for registering the strength o'i the current `in the section circuit and for sounding an alarm at each increase ot' said current.

2. In an automatic railway alarm system, an electric circuit extending the length ot the section of track to be protected which circuit is designed to be closed by the entrance onto it of an engine suitably equipped, means for automatically directing an electric current into the section circuit means for automatically increasing the strength ol such current with every further engine which enters on the section. means for successively reducing by the last added increment the strength of the current in the circuit as an engine leaves the section. and means on each engine for registering the strength ot the current in the section circuit.

3. In an automatic railway alarm system. an electric circuit extending throughout the length ot the section of track to be protected one end of which circuit is connected to the rails ot the track and the other to a series of contact plates arranged at intervals along the protected section of track, a corresponding contact forming a terminal of a closing circuit on an engine occupying the section in which circuit is a registering voltmeter and an electric bell contact, means for directing an electric current into the section circuit said means being operable by an electromagnet on the track section sensitized by current furnished it'rom the engine, which current is automatically delivered as the engine passes onto the section. means for reducing the strength ot' the current in the track section as the engine leaves the section said means being operable by temporarily supplementing the strength of the current in the track section by adding to it a current t'rom the engine.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence ot two subscribing witnesses.

NIELS LANG.

fitnesses CLIvn S. Caiman, RowLAND Bin'rtrain. 

